FALL FY 18 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Note to prospective applicants:Please read this announcement carefully and thoroughly. Aspects of eligibility, strategic technology sectors and application process have changed, significantly. Applicants not adhering to the new process will have their proposals disqualified. Applicants wishing to re-submit proposals to TAP must comply with the revised procedures..

UTAH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (USTAR) INITIATIVE

USTAR is the State of Utah’s technology catalyst, accelerating the growth of the innovation ecosystem from invention through product development. Guided by Utah’s economic clusters, USTAR supports technology entrepreneurs and innovators through training, funding and incubator and accelerator programs; brokering technology transfer by connecting capital, management and industry, addressing market gaps in Utah’s technology ecosystem and strengthening the state’s research capacity.

TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATION PROGRAM (TAP)

The Technology Acceleration Program (TAP) is a USTAR competitive grant program that supports private sector technology development for Utah-based companies. Proposed work can include, but is not limited to, research and development, proof of concept, product validation, and product development. TAP grants must be used to accelerate the development and commercialization of a technology and project proposals must identify specific technical milestones leading to the proposed outcome.

In addition to the award, TAP awardees will receive non-material support, such as referral to USTAR’s partner networks, to assist in achieving technical and business milestones with the goal of commercial success.

ELIGIBILITY

Company must be Utah-based; i.e. maintain its principal place of business in Utah. To be considered Utah-based, a company must:

Be registered with the Utah Division of Corporations as an active for-profit business entity in good standing

Maintain at least 90% of employees in Utah.

A residency waiver may be requested after awards are made, if more than 50% but less than 90% of the company employees reside in Utah .

Misrepresentation of any kind may result in immediate disqualification.

Company must have a license in good standing for any intellectual property at the time of award.

Targeted Technology Sectors

USTAR is focused on the following targeted technology industry sectors for FY18 (July 1-June 30):

Aerospace – Aerospace is concerned with aeronautics and astronautics. Areas for research include, but are not limited to, innovative approaches in aerodynamics, advanced materials, engineering of aircraft and spacecraft and the autonomous control of aircraft. This includes both manned and unmanned systems.

Automation and Robotics (including IoT and Smart City technologies) – Automation technology is the use of cutting-edge machinery in industrial applications to minimize human exertion. Robotics is the branch of automation that deals with the design, construction, operation and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback and information processing.

Big Data and Cybersystems – Big Data is a term for data sets that are so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. Challenges include analysis, capture, data curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, querying and information privacy. Analysis of data sets can find new relationships to gather information on topics such as business trends, crime patterns, genome sequences, complex physical environments and more.

Cybersystems is an overarching term related to computerized electrical and mechanical processes, as well as information generation and large capacity, rapid access storage, as well as data encryption, data security against breaches and data retrieval technologies. USTAR wishes to inspire creation and development of new strategies to prevent attacks on computer system networks and develop new encryption tools and computer hardware with a line of sight toward the next generation of computer hardware.

Note: software application development and software subscription services are not considered in scope for this funding mechanism.

Energy and Clean Technology – Energy and clean technology encompasses products and processes that harness renewable and nonrenewable advanced materials to dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, cut emissions and waste, and provide options for efficient energy storage and usage.

Life Sciences – Life science is defined as the study of living organisms from a cellular, molecular, or macroscopic perspective. Research in this area includes, but is not limited to advanced materials for life science applications, medical device development, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, agriculture, health IT and genetics.

Submit the LOI by August 25th 2017, 5:00 p.m. MT. Only those LOIs submitted on USTAR forms are reviewed.

The applicant’s LOI is reviewed and either accepted or declined by USTAR.

A notice of acceptance with a unique application number will be sent by email to the main company contact within 5 business days.The application number is used to access the online portal to submit application materials.

Applicants whose LOI is declined will also be notified by email with an explanation for the decision. LOIs with incomplete information are eligible for correction and resubmission prior to August 18.

Submit LOI components as a single PDF file with the title, Companyname_Sector.pdf, to TAPinfo@Utah.gov.

Stage 2. Complete Applications will be accepted electronically at taputah.comstartingAugust 31, 2017. Applicants will be required to create a profile and agree to all terms and conditions for the program. Taputah.com is optimized for the Google Chrome browser. It is suggested that applicants refer to the provided checklist on USTAR’s website to ensure submission of a complete application (see details below). All submitted documents must be uploaded as PDF files.

The application deadline is no later than October 2, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. MT.

QuadChart – (downloadable template) Summarize key elements of the technology and commercial positioning according to the template.

White Paper (create document with each subsection) Do not exceed six pages, 1.5 spacing and no less than 12-point Arial font with one inch margins. (See specifics on graphs, tables and supplemental material below.) The white paper must be presented in NON-CONFIDENTIAL terms and must include the following:

Introduction: Describe the overall technology background, problem being solved in terms of unmet need, innovation (disruptive-transformational-incremental improvement over state-of-the-art), rationale and overall approach based on current technology readiness level, TRL, and expected TRL at project completion.

Technical Strategy: For each project milestone describe the technical approach, the expected outcome(s) and specific deliverable(s). Include limitations and alternative approaches. The timeline for completion must be stated. The entire project period must not exceed 18 months.

Commercial Market Strategy: Describe the business model and commercialization strategies of the company, such as the intended market, competitors, innovation in your product that will allow it to compete in the market, as well as market size and realistic revenue stream if company is successful. Related to the commercialization plan, address the path to market, regulatory path (if applicable), additional resources required and how they will be acquired.

Economic Impact: Characterize the potential economic impact on the state of Utah if your company is successful in taking the technology to market. This can include job creation, product sales and potential revenue. The economic impact description should also include anticipated time to market. Indicate if resources, such as manufacturing or supplies, will be sourced within Utah.

Governance: Describe the governance structure of your company.

Cited references are public domain articles and scientific literature. These are not counted in the page limit.

Graphs and Tables are best embedded in the text and count toward the page limit. The font may be 10 pt or larger. Supplemental material, such as patents, counts toward the page limit.

Scopeof Work – (download form) This is a breakdown of the project by milestone. Use the provided template to present your research plan according to milestones, their corresponding deliverable(s), budget and timeline. Use the chart template to illustrate milestone activity relative to the total grant period. An example chart is provided.

Budget and Budget Justification: (download forms)

Follow the budget template; there are 3 worksheets

Funding for travel is discouraged. If necessary for milestone completion, document the specific activity, the rationale and the portion of budget that will be used outside of Utah.

Any required equipment in the budget that exceeds $5,000 will require justification.

In the justification, identify any private or government funds raised to date or pending. Include the source of funds and total amount raised. If USTAR funds have been used to date, please specify the date awarded and amount.

If anticipating additional funding to supplement the proposed project, describe the amount and source specifically.

Key Personnel Biosketch: (download form) Use one form for each key person not to exceed 5 pages per Biosketch.

Personal statement – background and experience that will lead to milestone accomplishment

Technical and/or management contribution to the project

Letters of Support – (upload as PDF) USTAR accepts letters from those supporting the commercial interest in the company, such as strategic partners, potential customers and others not directly affiliated with the company. No more than 3 letters are permitted, each less than 2 pages.

Stage 3. USTAR reserves the right to invite selected applicants to give a brief presentation to a review panel. A presentation template will be provided in that instance.

STATE FISCAL YEAR

The state’s fiscal year is July 1 – June 30. Please use Fiscal Year designation (FY18, FY19 or FY20 as appropriate) in developing your budget and Scope of Work.

FUNDING SPECIFICATIONS

USTAR receives an annual appropriation. Therefore, funding for TAP is dependent on USTAR’s appropriation. There is no minimum/maximum or suggested amount. Budgets and proposals should be driven by the cost associated with the milestones. However, USTAR puts a cap on compensation of project personnel not to exceed $150,000 per person per year. USTAR does not pay overhead costs.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

USTAR strongly encourages you not to disclose confidential materials in your application. An initial screen will be conducted by USTAR staff to ensure proposals meet submission requirements.

Upon acceptance of application materials, an independent, volunteer panel of technical and industry experts from the corresponding USTAR technology sectors review TAP proposals. The review process is managed from USTAR headquarters in Salt Lake City. Reviewers sign confidentiality disclosure agreements with USTAR and are prescreened to avoid conflicts of interest with applicants.

Peer review panels will review proposals based on the following criteria:

Technical merit

Strength and maturity of company, management and governance structure

Potential for economic impact, as measured by:

Job creation

Product sales

Potential revenue due to expansion of current business or development of new businesses

Projected time to revenue or job creation

Market need

Technical capacity of team

Reasonableness of cost proposal (size and allocation of budget is appropriate for the work proposed and matching funds available)

Reasonableness of proposed milestones and timelines

Any other factor indicative of applicant’s ability to produce measurable and timely impacts on the state in areas related to the economic development performance metrics used to evaluate USTAR activities.

SCORING RUBRIC FOR TAP – the scoring range is 1-5, in whole numbers. Reviewers scores are averaged and compiled into a rank order.

Expertise and % effort of salaried professionals consistent with the milestone

Non-salary expenses sufficient to support project without padding

Score 3 of Budget Evaluation

Proposed budget is somewhat over or under budgeted for the project and its milestones

Expertise and % effort of salaried professionals is not adequate for the milestone

Non-salary expenses of project are inappropriate

Score 1 of Budget Evaluation

Proposed budget is not realistic for the project and its milestones

Expertise and % effort of salaried professionals is not realistic for the milestones

Non-salary expenses of project are inappropriate

AWARD

USTAR has the discretion to determine the maximum amount of grant funding awarded based on available funds and quality of applicant pool. Upon award of the TAP grant, and prior to any disbursement of funds, the company must enter into a written agreement with USTAR governing the use of grant funding. Unless addressed in the terms and conditions of the written agreement between the company and USTAR, the following provisions shall apply:

Company must remain a Utah-based company for at least five years from initial disbursement of TAP funding

Company may not use TAP grant funding to provide a primary benefit to any state other than Utah

For all other eligibility requirements, company must maintain eligibility status for the TAP program until the project is complete, all milestones have been met, final disbursement of funding has been made, and first year reporting has been completed

Funding will be contingent on successful completion of milestones and availability of appropriated funds. 50% of the FY milestone amounts will be given up front with the remaining amount to be disbursed upon milestone completion and verification of deliverable

A company that violates the requirements above forfeits the grant funding and may be required to repay all or a portion of funds received as part of the TAP grant.

Awardees will be contractually obligated to report to USTAR or affiliated auditors/contractors regarding jobs created and salary ranges, follow on investment, revenue, sales and other information as outlined in the Technology Acceleration Program administrative rules, terms and conditions of contract for a minimum of five years following completion of award.

Prior to disbursement of funds, awardees may be required to demonstrate that they are properly authorized to operate in the State of Utah (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, etc.).Awardees will be required to meet program milestones and to meet regularly with USTAR staff to assess progress on milestones.

If the company moves out of Utah or is acquired in 5 years, awardee may be required to pay the state back as stated in the TAP terms and conditions.

Schedule of disbursement of funds will be defined in the contract. Awards will be for no more than 18 months.

Award Timeline:

USTAR anticipates announcing selected proposals within 45 days of the closing date, and contracts will be delivered within 45 days following announcements.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions regarding TAP must be submitted in writing via email to TAPinfo@utah.gov . Inquiries made via any other method will not be accepted. In the interest of assuring fairness, all frequently asked questions and answers will be posted under TAP Questions on the USTAR website. Applicants with specific questions regarding any aspect of their application must be received no less than 24 hours before the close of the application deadline.